New posts below, too, but I couldn't pass this up for the 31st.

Luther's theology on the relationship between the church and the state, by the way, led to the church allowing Hitler to do his thing. Sometimes Christians HAVE to get into politics.

The popular thinking is that the two should not cross paths. There are countless examples of harm done in the name of God, by Christians and other people of faith.

So should religious values be removed from the realm of public debate? While some would like this, as a person of faith, I don't see that as possible. My faith involves values that encompass WAY more than the "moral values," that the media talks about. My faith says that I have to work for peace, for justice, for the hungry, homeless, and imprisoned, and for for the good of an alien/stranger. It says that I have to love my neighbor.

How can I separate loving my neighbor from the way that I vote?

I have not found an issue that is not, to me, a "'moral issue." If I could not base my vote on my faith, I could not vote based on the war, health care, marriage, abortion, education, taxation, or immigration am I leaving an issue out?

Should I just walk into the booth a pull a lever at random?

A lot of people see faith as something like rooting for a sports team. It effects how you dress sometimes, what you do on game day, and who you talk to. Some people are more into it than others, but obviously nobody bases all of their life decisions on their association with a team.

However, its not that way for me, and many other people of faith. All that I am is wrapped up in my faith. To say otherwise is to lie.

So, while I hate the blind obedience that was demonstrated in (e:changeisgood)'s post, and I disagree with that guy's conclusions, I find myself taking action on global warming, BECAUSE of my faith convition, not in spite of it.

Lots of people do horrible things, with and with out faith. Likewise, plenty of people are altruistic without faith to guide them.

Me, I can't imagine living any way except selfishly without my faith. I know (from observation, mostly) that others can do it, but without my faith, I think I would be all about me--which would change my perspective on the war, immigration, and global warming, to name a few things

Which isn't to say that I don't believe in the separation of church and state. More on that later . . .

PS. really, if anybody wants to take a trip to New Orleans, it will be cool. Scroll down in my posts to check it out.

Next Sunday's sermon, briefly. Based on Ephesians 1:15-23

When George Orwell wrote, "He who controls the present controls the past. He who controls the past controls the future," it was a scary picture of government controlling history.

For Christians, this scary quote is actually good news--not because we have taken control of the present (and therefore, history), but because we see efforts of control in the present as fleeting compared to the extraordinarily different power the Christ exhibited in the past, which we believe to be a guarantee of the future.

Fate is not in control, and neither is Caesar, or George W. Bush, or whoever comes after that.

So, because of an event in the past (namely Christ's resurrection and ascension) we have hope for a resurrection-life in the future, and claims to power based on death (i.e. all of them, save God's) are empty--setting us free to live a different way in the present!

We'll spend more time unpacking that idea on Sunday, and considering how it might affect us as individuals and a community.

Jan 6-12. Most of the people on this trip will be Presbyterians, but all types of people are welcome (and though my userpic may lead you to believe otherwise, there will be no coercion on this trip).

The cost of the food/lodging while you work will be $120. Plane tickets are reserved for $300 (round trip) and can be held with a $100 deposit. The deposit is due next Monday.

The work will be construction and deconstruction. There is a special need for skilled workers, but there is plenty to do for everybody. Even those with physical issues can assist in feeding other volunteers or handling the paperwork that is involved in the relief effort.

Want to go? Comment and I will email you an application right away.

I am slipping, since I was over 20 during August and September.

And of those 13, a few were lame, like this one, #14.

And the more lame ones I write, the less likely they are to get read.

Therefore, I will write a good one tonight. Really. #15 will be fantastic.

Will I get to 20 before the end of the month?


You'll have to stay tuned to find out.

Or realize that I would have to post 2 and 3 times a day to get there, which really just defeats the purpose.

So, no, I won't.

Are you still reading this? I'm sorry.

The party was fun. Happy Halloween.

(also happy Reformation Day, All Saint's Day, and All Soul's Day)

Spend some time on

Conservapedia.org

and

creationwiki.org


as well as at Answers in Genesis

if you want to engage with the distinguished member of the scientific community tonight.

Those sites should cover all of those things that you Roswell Doctors missed in your sinful "universities" and "medical schools."

A special 10 things presentation.

I have another relatively new post below, but I couldn't wait to do this one.

Paul, is there a way to imbed the presentation? Or is linking to it best?

This week, I had a tough job for my church. Why? Because every year ask people to make a pledge for the next year, which allows us to set our budget. Because I want our service to and connection with the community to grow, I would also like our budget to grow, but that means that the people that go to the church have to give more money.

And I'm actually ok with asking for money, because I believe in what we are doing. (My guess is that Paul feels the same way regarding asking for estrip money--his appeal inspired this post).

Here's my problem. Most of the proven methods of getting people to give are counter to our message. They either appeal to pride (Christians shouldn't be too keen on that) or fear (we believe that there's nothing for us to fear). It's all well and good for Paul to give out titles and stars (and I DO want my title!), but the church's message is quite different.

So anyway, we normally kick things off with a letter. Here's my first draft. (there will be a 10 things I love about google docs soon)

It's the kind of letter that normally gets written by Presbyterians Pastors, with a little bit of Drew style thrown in.

But I was almost ready to mail it and it didn't feel right. So I scrapped it and wrote this letter.

More honest, more direct, less about pride and/or fear.

To be honest, I don't know if it will make any difference, but I feel much better about the second effort.

1. It makes stuff grow.

2. It makes football more interesting (less passing, more fumbles, more slips).

3. Playing in mud (it's been a while, but its fun)

4. It keeps whatever I am allergic to down.

5. It's cheaper/easier than a car wash.

6. The arrested development song "rain."

7. My dog will not bug me for a longer walk.

8. Rain helps streams, and I like streams.

9. Rain can cover for me if I accidentally leave the house with bed-head.

10. Estrip tells me that it is raining.

Why the celebration? This post put "10 things" in the tag cloud on the estrip main page. My lack of creativity/tendency to make lists has finally paid off! I am slightly less insignificant now!

1. Most of the time, I leave church in a good mood.

2. The Simpsons.

3. Football.

4. Naps.

5. Sunday Dinners.

6. Phone calls home.

7. Walking outside when the weather is great, like today. Building a fire and/or hunkering down when it is cold.

8. The Sunday newspaper.

9. Brunch

10. Seeing the "early Elmwood" people on the way to church.